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Fake crypto awards on the rise during football world cup: research

Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has warned against fraudsters taking advantage of football fans during the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

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Smiling friends cheer for their favorite team, football fans. Group of people wathing tv broadcast at home. Cheerful company celebrate goal

Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has warned against fraudsters taking advantage of football fans during the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

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Fast facts

  • Kaspersky said in its research that tricksters bet on matches with fraudulent crypto awards or non-fungible token (NFT) artwork, while phishing sites try to dig out user data.
  • “Fake tickets are the bait most used to lure victims. Qatar 2022 is only offering digital tickets, increasing the risk of running into malicious resources,” Kaspersky research pointed out. 
  • “Users of these sites will lose personal data, banking details, and money,” the report added. 
  • Users are asked to enter crypto wallet details for prize transfers, while scammers gain access to all their savings and wallet data. 
  • Scammers have also been using the world cup tournament to steal user data through fake merchandise, like fake t-shirts and signed footballs by popular players, the report said. 
  • Football is the most popular sport among crypto investors, with about 70% of them watching the 2022 FIFA World Cup, according to a new survey by Seychelles-based crypto exchange KuCoin. 
  • See related article: Hong Kong’s Resources Capital Football Club kicks off NFT goals